"You don't need to do that. I would have had to get a room anyway."
"Oh my gosh. I've been rambling on, and I haven't even asked where you live! I'm so sorry. You know you can tell me to shut up whenever. I'll understand."
"Not going to tell you to shut up."
"Right, because you're all kind and sweet. You can say zip it instead so it’s not so harsh sounding." She motions with herhand, zipping her mouth. I shake my head because that's not happening either.
Teddy has asked questions about me, and I have answered them. My answers are short because there isn't a ton to tell. Not that wouldn't scare her, anyway.
"I suppose I'm a nomad. I keep on the move. I'm in hotels more often than not. Anytime I'm anywhere too long, I get restless.”
"Do you enjoy that? Moving from place to place?” she asks as I pull off the exit and spot a Holiday Inn Express. It's not super fancy, but it will be clean and let her get some shut-eye.
"It's what I'm used to."
"Well, I don't want to take advantage, so if you could book my room too, I'll pay you." She thinks we're staying in different rooms? Not happening.
"Let me run in and see if they have anything available."
Teddy glances around the fairly vacant parking lot. "I think they will."
I grunt as my response, parking right at the entrance so I can see the SUV from the front desk. I don't want to leave her alone, but if I want us to share a room, I'll need to go in alone.
"Keep the doors locked," I tell her.
She gives me a bright smile. "Got it." She gives me a thumbs-up.
Fuck, she's cute.
I'm cooked. I know without a doubt that I’ll never be the same.
Chapter Seven
TEDDY
Itry to text Lily a few more times, but there’s no response. She still might be flying. She is going to freak when I give her all the details of what has gone down. I’m just not sure how we’re going to share them.
Our texts are cryptic and short. Tristan is watching, and I’m pretty sure he always is. I hope that she’ll pop up on Discord. She won’t access it from her phone, so I likely won’t hear anything until she’s settled into wherever they are going.
I watch Killian talk to the woman at the front desk. She's animated with her hands as she speaks with him, giving Killian a bright smile. I think she's flirting with him. I run my fingers through my hair, wishing it was shiny like hers. At least mine has a crown. Which is probably silly now that I think about it. I reach up and take it off.
A knot forms in my stomach when she throws back her head and laughs. Is Killian in there busting jokes with her? The heck? He wasn't super chatty with me, but he did answer my questions. I should not be getting jealous. Of course they are talking. Killian is a nice guy. He's not going to be rude and blow her off. Even if it would make me happy.
Gah! See, those mean kinds of thoughts are not going to win me points with Killian. I watch as she gives him the room key and then a card before winking at him.
Oh my gosh, what if she made plans to go to his room? Why is my mind having these thoughts? I should be happy for Killian. That could be his true love. He could fall madly in love with her and no longer want to be a nomad. Instead, he'd want to be at home with his wife and maybe a few little ones and a lynx.
I jerk my attention out the other window to pretend I wasn't paying attention when I see him head back toward the SUV. He slips in.
"Are you okay?" he asks me.
"Great, perfect." The silence grows, and I finally crack and turn my head to look at him. He's watching me.
"Not sure I believe that." He takes my crown from my lap. "Your eyes are sad, and you took this off."
"My eyes are sad?" He shrugs. Did he pay that close attention?
"Only one room." Oh. Okay, I didn't see that coming.
